Antonio Terenghi

(31 October 1921 - 26 October 2014, Italy)

Antonio Terenghi was the creator of many Italian comics characters for the publishing houses Universo and Alpe. Born in Alano di Piave, Terenghi began his career as a comics letterer. During his military service in World War II, he was captured by the British in Africa, and upon the end of the War, he returned to Italy. He reassumed his lettering duties, and created his first comic strip for Gaia Fantasie in 1951, 'Poldo e Poldino'.

In 1952, he began a long collaboration with the publishing house Universo, where he created series like 'Nuto l'Astuto', 'Ademaro il Corsaro', 'Nita la Svampita', and 'Gastone il Pigrone', before he came up with 'Pedrito el Drito'. This sheriff is probably the first spaghetti-western hero, and is regarded as one of Italy's most popular comics characters. Subsequent creations by Terenghi are 'Tarzanetto' for the publishing house Dardo and the reporter 'Teddy Sberla' for Alpe. For many years, he also drew the series 'Piccolo Eva' in Il Monello. In the following years, Terenghi expanded his activities for Alpe, which resulted in the creation of 'Poldo e Poldino', 'Caribù', 'Mac Keron' and 'Gionni e Geppina'.